The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-08-19
miscellaneous.
THE RUSSIAN BLOODHOUND,


struck by the shafts of another, and, as tht
pavement was slippery, went down, and TIT
vehicle went over me, breaking my left leG
below the knee. An hour later WIS in my
bachelor apartments (the work of the surgeon
tinished) and feeling that | ought to BIZ
thankful to have come off with my life
was 10 for a siege of many weeks, and hat
some business which must be attended to by
an outsider Therefore, after day or two
sent for Captain Jack Williams, IN old &C.
quanlance. Heanswered promptly enough
and we soon made very satisfactory arrange.
ments. He was bluff, honest fellow, out OF
active service, aud having nothing to do, and
the only unpleasant feature about his friend
slip was the fact of his owning monster
Russian bloodhound The brute was his
shadow. Where the dog could not go the
Captain would not go. He refused all par
ties and receptions because of the dog. He
RETAINED from excursions by land or STA be-
cause he would be temporarily separated from
Gar as he called the animal. The pair were
well known in London, and the captain was
as safe at midnight in the slums as any other
man would be in the Strand at MONDAY.
One glance at the dog was enough to show
that he was as dangerous as tiger. He
made no friends either among dogs or men,
and had miraculously escaped dozen we'll
laid traps to bring about his death.
| hated Gar, and on two or three occa-
sions had reason to believe that the feeling
was returned. When the Captain called and
found me laid up, he had sense enough to
know that the presence of the brute might
annoy me, and he therefore shut him up in
the servants room for few minutes The
dog was usually prompt in obedience. On
this occasion he obeyed in q grudging, sulky
manner, and before leaving the room threat
ened me so plainly that became apprehen-
sive. The Captain agreed that Gar should
not enter my sick room again. and in cou-
pie of weeks had forgotten all about the
incident.
had apartments on the second floor, three
rooms 10 row, with hall along the front
of the last two. The first room was for my
servant, a man who had been with me for
many years. The next was the reception
room, and the third my sleeping room. One
coming down the hall could enter at the door
of either room. The bedroom and reception
room were connected, but the servants room
was entirely shut off. 1t was hot day in
August, with all doors and windows open.
was feeling pretty smart, although the pain
was considerable, and couple of my friends
had just departed, after brief call, when
Henry, my servant, came in TO see what he
could do for me. was flat on my back, as
you know, with no chance to turn over on
account of the leg, but l had him prop me up
with two or three pillows. then sent him
for ice He had but few steps to go, and
the doors were left open behind him. He
had been gone about five minutes when in
walked Capt. Williams Russian bloodhound.
| shouldn't have said walked on the con-
trary he came running in, head up, tongue
out and his eyes as red as live Goals. saw
him the moment lie entered, and it passed
through my brain like q flash that he was
mad.
The door leading into the hall was open
Twice as the dog crcled around the room he
seemed on the point of going out, but each
time changed his mind, whned in an uneasy
way, and then continued his circling. He
did not look for me, nor at me 1t was
large room, with the bed against the wall,
and from the way the brute bumped against
the chairs l believe he was nearly blind. He
had been with me two or three minutes when
the hall door was caught by draught of
wind and slowly pulled to. 1t did not quite
shut. The dog noticed the movement, sprang
to get out and the result was that he pushed
the door shut and snapped the spring lock.
The door leading into the reception room
was still open, but the door from that into
the hall was shut. Tie animal rushed into
this room, upset chair and bumped the
table, and then came back whining, his tail
down and his courage gone, and skunk under
my bed. That the dog was suffering with
hydrophobia there could be no doubt As
he returned from the reception room there
was foam on his jaws, and he was so weak
he staggered.
Had been well man aud fully armed my
situation would have been bad enough. There
was, perfectly helpless, locked in with the
brute, and knowing it might be hours before
death came to him. My servant had key
to the door, and when he returned he would
open it and walk in. There was not the
once attack him. had two or three min
utes in which to think, and it was wonder
full how clear headed was l looked upon
my own chances as hopeless, and therefore
determined that when Henry returned l
would call out to him before he got the door
Open was also concerned for fear the dog
would get out of the building. 1t was a
crowded ncighborhood, and he might bite q
score of people before he was destroyed.
1t is said that the presence of great dan.
ger sharpens the sense of hearing. / believe
this to be true, for have had several person
al experiences. AS lay there waiting for
my servant to return plainly heard sounds
which could not have come to my ears under
ordinary circumstances At the foot of the
second flight of stairs, distance of fully 70
feet from my bed, Henry was stopped by a
young man who lodged on that floor. heard
him say:
II was waiting here to tell you that Capt.
Williams brute of dog passed up stairs
short time ago. Is the captain there?"
"He was not there when left"
"And he has not come in after the dog
The animal had scaly look, and you'd bet
ter be careful how you drive him out"
THANK you, sir, I'll hurry right up"
heard my man come up stairs and along
the hall. AS soon as he saw that my bed
room door was shut he seemed to suspect the
worst, and he acted like hero. He came
down the hall on tiptoe, put his face close to
the door, and sang out:
Colonel, know the big dog is in your
room and am going for help. If he comes
near you shut your eyes and pretend to be
dead.h